Maison Poincaré: we visited the very first mathematics museum in Paris

Calling all mathematics and theoretical physics enthusiasts! La Maison Poincaré, the new mathematics museum in Paris, located within Sorbonne Université, has been waiting for you since September 30, 2023. This innovative space is located in the emblematic Jean Perrin building, formerly occupied by the Laboratoire de Chimie Physique - Matter and Radiation, founded by Jean Perrin, winner of the 1926 Nobel Prize in Physics. Conceived by the architectural firm Atelier Novembre, this initiative aims to bring mathematics out into the open. With a total surface area of 900 m2 in the heart of the Latin Quarter, this will be the first museum in France to be devoted entirely to mathematics and its applications.

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Inspired by international references such as the Maison des mathématiques et de l'informatique in Lyon, the Musée das mathematikum in Germany and MOMATH in New York, the museum aims to achieve three major objectives. It aims to create a place for exchanges and conviviality, to encourage interdisciplinarity between scientists from all over the world, and to establish a strong link between mathematics, society and the general public. The interior has been designed to offer open-plan spaces, combining offices, exhibition areas and meeting places, illustrating the dynamics of mathematics. The wooded terrace at the heart of the site, and the glazed design, underline the openness of mathematics to the outside world.

Our discovery of the Maison Poincaré - Musée des mathématiques :

A museum we were able to preview, before it opened to the public. And we're not going to lie, we were particularly - but above all pleasantly - surprised by the place. To be perfectly honest, we're a little (not to say a lot) put off by maths, and this beautiful, open, uncluttered space could well reconcile us with the discipline, on several counts: firstly, its approach to mathematics, which is very playful and in tune with the times. Here, mathematics is approached not through complex formulas and calculations, but through play and experimentation.

It's a museum that's very accessible to the general public, and especially to children, who will be delighted to discover a number of complex mathematical concepts in a very simple and understandable way. It's also in tune with the times, covering subjects such as artificial intelligence, photography, music and probability.

Secondly, in its approach to the state of research in France, through videos of researchers explaining their work on the subject, mathematics encompasses just about every scientific discipline: flow studies, dispersion of fluids in a liquid, physical applications... Everything is covered so that everyone understands the importance of mathematics in understanding the world around us. The museum is also located right in the heart of the research center, which makes it much easier for visitors to interact with researchers, as evidenced by the beautiful amphitheater accessible to visitors, which also offers a few anecdotes about research and our understanding of the world around us.

It's the perfect place to get to grips with maths, and a great way to discover mathematical applications in everyday life!

This large-scale project, supported by partners such as CNRS, Sorbonne Université, the Île-de-France region and the City of Paris, promises an enriching experience. Visitors will be able to explore the history of mathematics, the approach taken by researchers and the influence of this discipline on our society through interactive devices, videos, collectors' items and a unique immersive mixed reality experience. So, friends, are you ready to do maths again at the Maison Poincaré?